Research in our group lies at the interface of mechano-microbiology and materials-biosystems interactions. We use a multifaceted and integrative approach to quantify, and elucidate the molecular mechanism behind the mechanical forces that stabilize the initial stages of bacterial biofilm formation on different materials. Initial efforts in the Mechano-microbiology Lab will focus on the early stages of biofilm development―first contact with the surface and microcolony formation. Below are the key research themes that we are working on (see our Research Page for more details):

Molecular forces in Bacterial Biofilms―at the single-molecule and single-cell levels

Bacterial Rigidity Sensing

Structure and Nanomechanics of Bacterial Biofilms

Targeted Delivery of Anti-biofilm Agents

NEWS

15th Sept The lab welcomes its very first graduate student member, Alexa Zayadi! Know more about Alexa...

3rd Jun Ruby gave a talk, "Bacterial Attraction", at the Chemistry Alumni Spring 2017 Reunion at St. George campus.

11th May Kudos to Eric for being awarded the NanoNet Undergraduate Student Enhancement Award!

8th May Ruby gave a talk in the Matrix Dynamics Group seminar series of the Faculty of Dentistry (UofT). Lots of exciting research synergies between the Matrix Dynamics group and the Mechano-microbiology Lab!

1st May Daniel Lysak joins the group for the summer as a recipient of the NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Award (USRA)! Congratulations and welcome!

1st MayBrody Chen starts his Summer Research in the group. Brody is a recipient of the University of Toronto Excellence Award (UTEA)-awarded to only two students in the Sciences in UTSC. Congratulations and welcome!